Hyundai Tucson vs. Toyota RAV4 - Hartford Hyundai

2006 Hyundai Tucson GLS 2.7 Sport Utility Vehicle

2006 Toyota RAV4 V6 Sport Utility Vehicle

Hyundai Tucson - Buy it at Gary Rome Hyundai

General Information

Estimated Market Price

$20,215.03

$21,794.19

Invoice

$19,490.00

$20,658.00

List Price

$20,845.00

$22,335.00

Vehicle Class

Utility

Overall Satisfaction Rating

100 out of 100

90 out of 100

Performance

Engine

2.7L 6 Cylinder

3.5L 6 Cylinder

Drive

FWD

Transmission

4 speed Automatic OD

5 speed Automatic OD

Compression Ratio

10.00:1

10.80:1

Horsepower

173 hp @6000rpm

269 hp @6200rpm

Torque

178@ 4000

246@ 4700

Bore

3.41

3.70

Stroke

2.95

3.27

Fuel Capacity

17.20 gallons

15.90 gallons

Fuel Type

Unleaded

Fuel Delivery

MPFI

SEFI

MPG City

MPG Highway

Convenience Features

Air Conditioning

Std

Power Windows

Std

Power Door Locks

Std

Tilt Steering Wheel

Cruise Control

Std

Leather Seats

Power Seats

Std

Tachometer

Std

Rear Defroster

Std

Full Spare

Premium Wheels

Std

Opt

AM/FM Radio

Std

Cassette Player

Std

CD Player

Std

Sunroof

N/C

MoonRoof

Dimensions

Wheelbase

103.5"

104.7"

Overall Length

170.3"

181.1"

Vehicle Height

66.1"

66.3"

Vehicle Width

72.1"

71.5"

Seating Capacity

Cargo Capacity (Cars)

Not Applicable

Front Headroom (Cars)

40.3"

40.8"

Front Legroom (Cars)

42.1"

41.8"

Rear Legroom

37.2"

38.3"

Payload Capacity (Trucks)

1282

1073

Gross Weight (Trucks)

4652 lbs.

4600 lbs.

Towing Capacity (Trucks)

1000

2000

Final Assembly Location

Legend
GRP	Not Available for individual purchase	RET	Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price
STD	Standard equipment for this model	DLR	Dealer installed
PKG	Available as part of an option package	N/C	No Charge
N/R	Status not provided by manufacturer	N/A	Not Available
OPT	Optional Equipment	PIO	Port Installed Option
-	Data Not Available	*	Note applies to this vehicle

How the Hyundai Tucson stacks up against the Toyota RAV4
by Nigel Cooper, Topanga CA

Cost
The destination charge is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle from its point of origin to the dealer. It costs about the same to get the Hyundai Tucson to the dealership as the Toyota RAV4. The Hyundai Tucson won't tax your gasoline budget substantially more than the Toyota RAV4 will. With respect to gas mileage, the Toyota RAV4 is a tad better than the Tucson, but not by much. The Toyota RAV4 is considerably more expensive than the Hyundai Tucson in terms of MSRP. The RAV4 is substantially more expensive than the Hyundai Tucson when it comes to purchase cost.

Utility
There's no clear winner between the Toyota RAV4 and the Tucson with respect to transporting cargo. The Toyota RAV4 will doubtless prove more practical than the Hyundai Tucson for those of you with frequent child-cargo. The Hyundai Tucson is likely a better choice than the Toyota RAV4 as far as transporting cargo, especially if you often need to carry a lot of suitcases or big animals. The RAV4 out pulls the Hyundai Tucson by a large margin.

Convenience
You'll definitely take the Toyota RAV4 for a fill-up about as often as the Hyundai Tucson.

Comfort
While the front cabin in the Toyota RAV4 offers a bit more head room than the Hyundai Tucson, there really isn't much of a difference. The Toyota RAV4 provides more head- and leg-room to your passengers than the Hyundai Tucson does.

Dimensions
The Toyota RAV4 is a little heavier than the Hyundai. The Toyota RAV4's tank is approximately the same size as the Hyundai Tucson's, though the Hyundai Tucson's is a tad larger. The Hyundai Tucson and the Toyota RAV4 compete for the same parking spaces.

Performance
As far as horsepower, the Toyota RAV4 packs quite a wallop and will knock the Hyundai Tucson down a few rungs. However, note that high horsepower engines often command higher insurance premiums. With its very low horsepower-to-weight ratio, the Toyota will knock you back into your seat when you accelerate.

Handling
The Hyundai Tucson and the Toyota RAV4 have approximately comparable tires. With their similar turning circles, the Toyota RAV4 and the Hyundai Tucson most definitely handle about the same into and out of tight spots.

Drivetrain
The Toyota has a more massive engine than the Hyundai. Remember that smaller engines are often cheaper to fix, but a smaller engine usually has to work a little harder. Torque is the force that lets you accelerate quickly, and in this respect, the RAV4 is significantly more powerful than the Tucson. Torque equals pickup, and the Toyota RAV4 will have picked up and gone by the time the Hyundai Tucson finally gets moving.

Overview
The basic after-sale protection that comes with the Toyota RAV4 isn't quite as generous as the Hyundai Tucson's.

Hartford, CT

Welcome to Hartford! New England�s Rising Star is one of America�s original cities. Founded by Dutch traders in the early 1600�s and established by the Reverend Thomas Hooker in 1636--- what started as a fort called the �House of Hope� is now a land of growth and opportunity for an enormously diverse population.

Hartford is the home of such internationally known treasures as the Wadsworth Atheneum (the nation�s first public museum), as well as attractions like the Mark Twain House, the Hartford Stage, the Bushnell Memorial, and the Artists Collective. But ever since traders used the Connecticut River to conduct business, Hartford has been abuzz with insurance and financial transactions. Companies such as Aetna, The Hartford Insurance Group, Phoenix, and St. Paul-Travelers have their roots here--- as does industrial giants like United Technologies.

Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut, in Hartford County. It is located on the Connecticut River, near the center of the state. As of the 2000 census, it has a population of 121,578, but a July 1, 2002 Census estimate put the city's population at 124,558. It is the second largest city in the state, after Bridgeport. Greater Hartford is also the 44th largest metro area in the country (2004 census estimate) with a population of 1,184,564.

Sometimes referred to as "insurance capital of the world," Hartford houses many of the world's insurance company headquarters, and insurance is one of the region's major industries. Hartford and its environs are also known as "the land of steady habits." The region has a relatively low population of adults between the ages of 18 and 25. Hartford's West End is home to Elizabeth Park, the oldest and largest municipal rose garden in the country.

Currently Hartford is experiencing a major revitalization with more than 1 billion dollars worth of private and publicly funded projects recently completed, under construction or in the works throughout the city's 17 neighborhoods.

Some of the major projects include:

Adriaen's Landing: The state and privately funded project is situated on the banks of the Connecticut River along Columbus Boulevard. The project includes the 540,000 square foot Connecticut Convention Center which opened in June, 2005 and is the largest meeting space between New York City and Boston. Attached to the convention center is the 22 story 409 room Marriott Hartford Hotel Downtown which opened in August, 2005. Being constructed next to the convention center and hotel is the 140,000 square foot Connecticut Center for Science and Exploration. The final component of the project is Front Street which sits across from the convention center and is the retail, entertainment and residential component of the entire project. Publicly funded parts of the project such as a new parking garage, new lighting and new streets have recently been completed and work will soon begin on the construction of new residential units which will be housed in tower type buildings plus retail and entertainment space which will include an ESPN Zone. On the back side of Front Street the historic Hartford Times Building is being converted into the home of administrative offices for the Wadsworth Atheneum.

Hartford 21:Currently being constructed on the site of the Hartford Civic Center Mall the project includes the construction of a new 36 story tower which will be the tallest residential tower in New England. The building will house 262 luxury apartments. Being constructed attached to the tower is 90,000 square feet of office space (some of which has been leased already to the YMCA Downtown for a new gym) and 45,000 square feet of retail space all of which will be housed in a large block. The Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Hartford Civic Center is still a part open and is part of the project. The Coliseum is still the home of the AHL Hartford Wolfpack, the UConn Men's and Women's Basketball teams as well as hundreds of big name concerts and trade shows.

Trumbull on the Park: This is a brand new apartment community that recently opened along Bushnell Park and includes 88 luxury apartments that are housed in a new 11 story brick building that also features a parking garage and ground level retail space. There are also 12 other units that are housed in recently renovated historic buildings on the adjacent Lewis Street.

55 on the Park: Formerly a SNET office building the building has now been turned into luxury apartments that sit along Bushnell Park. The building reopened a few years ago and were among some of the first new residences to open downtown in years.

Sage Allen Building: On Main Street the former Sage Allen Department Store building is being turned into 44 4-Bedroom townhouses some of which will be used as dorms for University of Hartford students while the others will be sold. The projects also includes the renovation of the Richardson Food Court and the reopening of Temple Street which will once again reconnect Main Street and Market Street.

Capital Community College at the G. Fox Department Store: The 913,000 square foot former home of the G. Fox & Company Department Store on Main Street recently underwent a complete renovation and is now the new home of Capital Community College as well as offices for the State of CT and ground level retail space.

The Metropolitan: The former Hartford Telephone Company Building on Pearl Street is being converted into luxury condominiums. When the condos open soon they will be the first condos to open downtown in years.

Connecticut Culinary Institute: The school has recently completed a deal that will relocate part of the school to the former Hastings Hotel and Conference Center in the city's Asylum Hill neighborhood just west of downtown and next to the AETNA Headquarters.